Martin O'Malley mum on Clinton email controversy

Potential presidential candidate in DC to talk data

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley gave a speech about data-driven government at the Brookings Institute down in Washington, D.C., but reporters in the audience wanted his take on a different kind of data, the email practices of Hillary Clinton.

"I'm seriously considering running in 2016," O'Malley said. "So yes, I intend to talk about this whenever I can."

O'Malley gave a speech about data-driven government at the Brookings Institute down in Washington, D.C., but reporters in the audience wanted his take on a different kind of data, the email practices of Hillary Clinton.

No one has declared their candidacy yet; however, Clinton would be the overwhelming primary frontrunner and would be O'Malley's chief competition.

O'Malley refused take advantage of Clinton's predicament. He didn't criticize her, didn't defend her, he just clearly didn't want to talk about her.

Would O'Malley release his emails from his time as governor of Maryland? Should public officials be required to use official email?

"Frankly, I'm a little sick of the email drama. In our state, whether you used a personal email or the public email or a carrier pigeon, it was all a public record subject to disclosure and response to any (Freedom of Information Act request)," O'Malley said.

When asked whether he was satisfied with Clinton's explanation, O'Malley said, "I respect your interest in this issue and I didn't watch the press conference yesterday so I don't know."

When asked why he didn't watch, O'Malley said, "Because I was working."

Without addressing Clinton directly, O'Malley did talk Wednesday about data and technology in terms of government openness transparency, which appear to be a large piece of his appeal to Democratic primary voters, especially younger ones.